ICE agents to question nearly two dozen people in suspected illegal immigration raid

Author: Ryan Loyd, Reporter, rloyd@ksat.com

Published On: Mar 10 2012 10:50:44 PM CST Updated On: Mar 10 2012 10:51:02 PM CST

ICE takes in 20 people from house

SAN ANTONIO -
Dozens of San Antonio Police officers and immigration officials swarmed a home on Commercial on the city's South Side Saturday night.

ICE spokeswoman Nina Pruneda says the agency received a tip from local authorities about what officials called a possible "alien smuggling stash house."

Two by two, the men and women were removed from the home, handcuffed and led to an ICE van, where they were taken to a local office and questioned.

"We're also processing them to determine their immigration status, if they've been in the country illegally before, or if this is their first time," Pruneda said by phone. "So it's a process that takes place. So definitely, we took those individuals into custody."

Pruneda stressed that the people are only suspects so far, and no charges have been filed.

She said it's a busier time of year for immigrations and customs officials who say people are trying to sneak into the U.S. to reunite with friends or family.

Agents are talking to the people removed from the home to determine their exact immigration status, and to find out if they knew the people who brought them.

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